CHICAGO - Barack Obama skipped a trip to Iowa today because he did not want to interfere with flood recovery efforts there. So instead, he surprised a class of eighth graders by showing up at their graduation ceremony.
Obama was at the Illinois Institute of Technology to hold a roundtable discussion on predatory lending practices. Next door to his event was the graduation ceremony for the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago, a school for disadvantaged youth.
When Obama made his surprise entrance at the ceremony, the children and their parents leaped to their feet and cheered, “Obama, Obama.”
They even cheered when Obama told them they should spend their summer preparing for ninth grade. He urged them not to settle for mediocrity, saying a changing world requires better educated Americans.
“What books are you going to read instead of watching TV?” he said.
When he ended his brief remarks, the crowd was still ecstatic that he showed up.
“Change, change, change,” they cried.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/John Gress (Obama campaigns in Chicago June 6)
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[...] a Reuters story about Barack Obama’s impromptu visit to an eighth grade [...]
- Posted by Commentary » Blog Archive » When’s Recess?Just love that Obama fella!
- Posted by DeborahThis is indicative, Mr.& Mrs. Reader, of why Mr. Obama will be President-elect Obama come November.
OK Jack
- Posted by OK JackObama vs. McCain = Inspiration vs. Constipation
- Posted by Buck in NCAnd guess what? In four years most of these same eight graders will be around 18 years old! (i.e. voting age) Gotta love that always thinking ahead!
- Posted by DeeI am disappointed to see that despite the fact that Obama was a happy surprise to the 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony at the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago, the ONLY ALL GIRLS public school in Chicago, your picture depicts a stage full of men.
- Posted by India Simeson